Sterilizing.



PATE "TEE MAR. 10, 1908.

E. P. BBCKWITH.

STBRILIZING- APPLICATION FILED Nov. 9. 1905.

"i Edward F. Beckwith /wxgw Witnesses.

. WM l E STATES BTE BEIGE.

EDWARD P. BECKWITH, OF CAZENOVIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.`

erecrrucI STERILIZING.

for use in sick rooms, hospitals and similar places.

Although my invention is of general application it -is intended more particularly to meet the demands for a simple inexpensive sterilizing and purifying apparatus `for domestic purposes.

My invention comprises certain novel feaf tures of construction and operation hereinafter set forth more in detail and illustrated by means of the drawing forming a part of this specification.

In the drawing, I have shown three Yconcentrically 'disposed glass tubes V.1', 2 and 3 carrying on their outer surfaces the conductors 4, 5 and 6 of aluminium foil. These conductors of aluminium constitute the conductive surfaces between which an electric stress is set up to roduce ozone from the air which circulates etweenv the glass tubes. The tubes constitute the dielectricsof the ozonizing apparatus, and although they may be made of various insulating materials instead of glass, I ind that glass gives good results, especially glass of the composition known to the trade as German glass. By disposing the dielectrics as concentric cylinders the apparatus is made very compact and furthermore used to good advantage,

the cooling action of the air and water under treatment'thereby securing a .high degree of purification of both air and water with a small eX enditure of energy.

By re erence to the drawing it will be seenl that the inner tube 1 is provided near its top with a constriction 7, and has attached to its extreme upper end a nozzle 8. This nozzle is supplied by water or other fluid under pressure through a suitable controlling valve 9, and projects the water with considerable force against the walls of the constriction 7. The injector action of this streamot water draws air in through a plurality offopenings 10 from the space between the inner tube 1 and intermediate tube 2-2, and conse- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 9, 1905.

Patented March 10,1908.

serial 110.286.499.

quently establishes a circulation ofuair into. the apparatus at the top between tubes 3 Yand l 2, then downward around the lower end of tube 2, and up to the openings-10 previously mentioned. This circulation of air serves to cool the glass tubes and theirr conductive coatings, and thereby maintains a relatively low temperature in the generating chambers, thus maintaining 'a high efficiency in the conversion of air into ozone. Inner tube l and its coating -1 are not only cooled by the circulating air, but are also cooled by the mixture of air and water which passes down-4 ward through the tube and leaves the apparatus through orifice 11. air and'water becomes intimately commin-l gled at the constriction 7 and in its passage. through tube 1, so that the water undertreatment and the air with which it is mixed are both thoroughly impregnated with the ozone and thereby purified ot' substantially all noxious germs and spores, thus rendering them pure and healthful.

The necessary electrical stress between the various coatings 4, 5 and 6 may be established in any convenient way, but I prefer to use a transformer 12, receiving energy from a suitable source and delivering high potential alternating-current to the three coatings. One terminal 13 of this transformer is connected to both'the coatings 6 and 4, while the other terminal 14 is'connected to the intermediate conductor 5, thus establishing two distinct paths for high potential discharge through the apparatus; one between the i11- termediate conductor 5 and the outer conductor 6, and the other between-the intermediate conductor and the inner conductor et. -In order that the apparatus may be as automatic as `iossible, I attach a suitable switch 15 to tie water supply valve 9, so that when the water is turned on the trans- This mixture/o f former primary will be energized, but when current is turned off the primary circuit will be interrupted.

As a means for supporting the outer tube 3 and its metal coating and for insulating'these' ply, an ozone generating chamber, and means roi' utilizing the flow ot iiuid in said therein.

2. In a sterilizing apparatus, a plurality of conducting surfaces .separated by dielectric material, means,y for establishing an electric stress between said surfaces, means for cooling one of said surfaces with a flowing liquid, and means for utilizing said flowing liquid to circulate a gaseous cooling medium in proximity to another oi said surfaces.

3. In a sterilizing apparatus, a plurality'ot concentric cylindrical. conductors, means for establishing an electric stress between said conductors to produce'ozone, means for supplying a liquid to the innermost ot' said conduc-tors and means for permitting said ozone to ,Contact with said liquid. V

4. AThe combination oi a pluralitiT of concentric insulating tubes, a conductive coating tor each of said tubes, means for establishing an electric stress between said coatings to produce ozone, and means-foi* supplying a cooling liquid to the innermost tube,

Vsaid tube having openings through which said ozone is entrained to purity said liquid. 5. In a fluid purifying apparatus, a mix,-

senses ing chamber, means for supplyingr iluid thereto to be purified, an ozone generating apparatus to cool said ozone generatino' c amber and te produce al circulation of air chamber surrounding said mixing chamber and communicating therewith, the 'walls of said mixing chamber forming a constriction in the path of said wat-er to efieot a circula tion of air through said ozone chamber.

6. The combination of three concentric tubes of insulating material spaced apart to form air spaces therebetween, a conducting coating for each of said tubes, means for establishing-an electric stress between one of said coatings and the other two, and means for circulating a liquid within the innermost of said tubes to cool said tube and effect a circulation of air through said ozone chamber.

7. In a sterilizing apparatus, a plurality of conducting surfaces, means for establishing an electric stress between said conductors to produce ozone, and means for establishing a jet of liquid within said apparatus to produce a circulation of air between said conductors.

In Witness lwhereof, l" have hereunto set myhand this 8th day of November, 1905.

BENJAMiN B. HULL, HELENA SHiELDs. 

